Beavers
Who are Beavers?
Beavers are young people, both boys and girls, aged 6 to 8 who:
- Master new skills and try new things
- Have fun and go on adventures
- Make friends
- Are curious about the world around them
- Help others and make a difference, on their own doorstops and beyond
What do Beavers do?
Beavers meet weekly and have fun with all their friends in the Colony (the name we use to describe a section of beavers). Beavers is all about fun and friendship! There are lots of different activities to try and badges to gain. There are many fun and exciting things for Beaver Scouts to do including making things; outdoor activities like climbing, hiking and camping; playing games, and leading them; going on visits; investigating nature; listening to stories; learning how to be safe and, most importantly, making new friends!
Why do the leaders have funny names?
Leaders in the section will use names of woodland creatures. This is the same all up and down the country and can be anything for example Thumper, Squirrel and Mr. Crow.
Riverbanks and building a Dam
The opening ceremony of every Beaver meeting, The Beavers form on their Riverbanks and then come together to form a Dam, a circle, and crouch down. The leader will do a call and response with the Colony.
Leader – “Who are you and what do you do!”
Beavers – “I’m a Beaver and we have fun, fun, fun!”
The Beavers will then do a drumroll, jump up and spin around, the Beavers will then be given a quick briefing of what will be happening that night and get on with the fun!
Closing Ceremony
This is similar to the opening ceremony and they build a Dam, and hand out any badges and notices, once this is done, they start the Great Goodbye. The Beaver to the left of the Beaver Leader starts by saying “goodbye” and they all go round clockwise progressively join in until it gets to the last person, who jumps up then one after the other, they jump up going anti clockwise, till it gets back to the leader who then jumps up and says “Good Night Beavers!”
Drop Off and Collection
Sessions are run in the hall start every Thursday (during term time) at 18:00 and finish at 19:00 (Unless otherwise stated on the Programme section on Online Scout Manager)
The doors to the hall will remain locked until 17:50 to allow time for the leaders to set up for the evening, so if you arrive slightly earlier please be prepared to wait outside. Please remember that your child’s safety is your responsibility until they have been registered as being in attendance with the Beaver Scout Leader when they arrive.
The meeting starts promptly at 18:00 to allow maximum time for your young people to enjoy the programme as there is so much to do in so little time!
When it comes time to pick up your young person please wait at the end of the hall near the doors or just outside in the hallway. Please pick up your child promptly at 19:00 , as Explorers meet straight after Beavers and need the hall.
Once you have come into the hall and your young person has been ‘passed’ over to you, their safety is now your responsibility, as leaders will be busy packing away or talking to parents to sort queries.
Investitures
Once your young person has been with us for a little while (normally around 6 weeks) and you have finished the Getting Started Process they will then take their Beaver Scout Promise and become an invested member of the Colony. Parents will be notified of when this will take place and be encouraged to come along and see the ceremony.
The new Beaver will then be allocated to one of the Beaver Lodges, all shown by the colour woggle they have been given.
Earth (Green)
Air (Purple)
Fire (Yellow)
Water (White)
Lodge Leaders
Within their Colony, Beavers are part of a Lodge. A Lodge is a smaller group of Beavers, headed up by a Lodge Leader. Lodge Leaders are responsible (and often older) Beaver Scouts who are chosen to take on leadership responsibilities, such as welcoming new people to the Colony or taking charge of a particular game or activity and lead a log chew.
They wear leadership stripes to celebrate their hard work and make sure everyone knows who they are.
Senior Lodge Leaders all reside in the Lightning Lodge, these are Beavers that have come to the end of their time in the Colony and are preparing to move on up to Cub Scouts, they are identifiable by the friendship knot in their scarfs.
Chief Scout’s Bronze Award
This is the highest award you can achieve in Beavers and should be the goal for every aspiring Beaver Scout, Click the badge below to find out more!
Beaver uniform and badge placement
What do Beavers wear?
Beaver uniform consists of a blue sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and group scarf to represent you come from 2nd Bognor.
Uniform Required for a Normal Evening
We expect Beavers to take pride in their uniform as it shows they take pride in being part of the Colony! Uniform is required on a Beaver night and consists of the following items:
Beaver Jumper (Badges sewn on)
Group Scarf and Woggle
Group T-Shirt
Suitable trousers e.g Shorts, Joggers, Leggings (Due to Beavers being a highly active section we have a no Jeans and Skirts/Dresses rule)
Comfortable closed footwear
Why is uniform important?
Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone feel part of the Colony. It also gives you a place to show off all the badges you earn.
Please see badge placement diagram to see wear to sew on all those badges!
